Freedom of Speech DIES in Las Vegas

Some terribly sad news out of Las Vegas this weekend during a Linda Ronstadt concert. If you're wondering what this has to do with Neil Young, we'll get to that momentarily.

According to the LAS VEGAS SUN, during a concert on Saturday, Linda Ronstadt was asked to leave the stage by the venue management when she dedicated the Eagles hit 'Desperado' to Michael Moore. According to the paper, the room erupted into equal parts boos and cheers.

She told the audience Moore 'is someone who cares about this country deeply and is trying to help.' "

Aladdin Casino President Bill Timmins ordered security guards to escort Ronstadt off the property and her belongings from her hotel room were sent to her tour bus.

Hundreds of angry fans streamed from the theater as Ronstadt sang. Some of them reportedly defaced posters of her in the lobby, writing comments and tossing drinks on her pictures.

Ok, so what does this have to do with Neil? Well, as we know Neil's music has a prominent role in Moore's film Fahrenheit 9/11 and this may pose trouble down the road. Let us hope not.

Last we checked the Thrasher's Wheat Neil Poll on the use of the song "Rockin' In The Free World" in Fahrenheit 9/11, about 72% thought it was a good idea for Young & Moore's music & film. About 23% thought this was a bad idea politically for Neil. There has been an upward trend supporting Neil's music in the film over the past several weeks. And about 5% don't care about politics and music.

So what do think? Vote & comment on artistic freedom.

While it's safe to say that Neil's fans are pretty tolerant, Thrasher is far more concerned by the climate in this country where someone can not feel free to speak their mind. A sad day for music. But a sadder day for the country.

The Dixie Chicks controversy did prove that this sort of thing is good for business. It remains to be seen what impact of the Fahrenheit 9/11 stances of Pete Townshend ("Won't Get Fooled Again"), R.E.M. ("Shiny Happy People"), and Neil Young ("Rockin' In The Free World") will have on their audiences and sales.

When Neil Young ran into a buzzsaw of criticism over the Greendale tour in 2003 about "not giving fans what they expected", Young responded:

"People have become complacent. They forget that artists have the right to do whatever they want to do. We don't work for anybody. A real artist is creating and that's what I like to do. It's my right. If people get upset because they don't understand what I'm doing, that reveals more about them than it does about me."

More comments on Blogcritics on Linda Ronstadt Being Ejected For Expressing Political Opinions.

Lastly, this comment by George Varga in the San Diego UNION-TRIBUNE sums it all up pretty well:

"Those who complain that Ronstadt should just sing, rather than express her opinions, forget that all art has a responsibility to inspire and provoke, not just soothe and entertain."

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